Abstract (in English)

Under new heritage legislation in South Africa the
conservation of ‘place’ and inherent intangible values
have been enshrined, but are not readily supported by
environmental controlling bodies and developers in
practice. Three case studies are used to demonstrate how
intangible place values were sucessfully defended where
developmental and political pressures indicated their loss.
The first example explains the process of identifying a
suitable site and providing urban design guidelines for
the introduction of 500 low-cost housing units in a ‘mixed’
cultural property that is earmarked for nomination for
World Heritage status – namely, the gold-rush town of
Pilgrim’s Rest and the Blyde River Canyon - with the aim
of retaining the intangible heritage resources whilst
redressing historical race-based injustices and providing
much-needed economic stimulus for the heritage place.
In the second example the intangible values inherent to
the Union Buildings in Pretoria - the seat of Government
designed by Sir Herbert Baker - were defined and used as
the departure point for urban design guidelines for the
proposed headquarters of the Dept of Foreign Affairs
planned in its proximity. In the last case study, the
conservation process for an inner city regeneration project
in a 100 year-old railway precinct in Pretoria at the foot of
the new Freedom Park -a national legacy site
commemorating African struggles for freedomsucceeded
in retaining intangible heritage resources in the
face of extremely compromising urban development
pressures and low-cost housing needs, as well as the
ravages of a rapid rail system which is soon to traverse
the site.

FISHER, R.C. 2001. The design intentions of Baker at the Union Buildings. In BAKKER, K.A. & DE JONG R.C. 2001. New headquarters for the Dept Foreign Affairs at the Union Buildings: Heritage Impact Assessment,